Family History Films

The world's leading private documentary company. 🎙Podcast - Family Talks:

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

With awards season in full swing, The Brutalist, Brady Corbet’s Oscar-nominated film, is being lauded for its powerful exploration of ambition, identity, and the immigrant experience in a shifting American landscape.

Brutalism isn’t just an architectural movement - it’s a statement of resilience, strength, and alienation. At Family History Films, we are continually inspired by stories of migration - a cornerstone of every family’s past. These journeys shape generations, echoing the themes of resilience and reinvention explored in this remarkable film.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Yesterday we visited @thedairystudios in Brixton to record the voiceover and add some finishing touches for a new client film.

We're excited to share this journey and can't wait to reveal the final product to the family.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

And that’s a wrap!

Last day spent filming at our clients’ local church, a great place for final reflections on the project - for both ourselves and our clients.

Goodbye Mother City! 🇿🇦

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

A wonderful filming day spent revealing some of our research to our client and their family on camera! With perfect weather to capture some of Cape Town’s glorious views.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Hello Cape Town!

Our crew have arrived safely and have spent some time exploring some of the beautiful scenery around the city, preparing to capture it on film next week.

What’s your favourite beauty spot?

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

One of our client's ancestors played a pivotal role in influencing the future of modern medicine!

This ancestor was an educator who mentored a young William Osler - later celebrated as the father of modern medicine. In a letter to his son, the ancestor highlighted Osler's dedication, describing him as "one whose characteristic is application," and deemed it worthy of imitation. The son later studied at McGill University, where he formed a friendship with Osler himself.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Launched in 2022, the American Women Quarters Program is a four-year initiative by the U.S. Mint honoring trailblazing women in American history. In its final year, the 2025 coins will feature:

Ida B. Wells: Investigative journalist, suffragist, and civil rights activist.
Juliette Gordon Low: Founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
Dr. Vera Rubin: Pioneering astronomer who transformed our understanding of galaxy rotation.
Stacey Park Milbern: Disability rights activist and inclusivity advocate.
Althea Gibson: Tennis and golf legend, and the first Black player to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open.

This program celebrates women whose diverse contributions have shaped America’s story.

Keep an eye out for these inspiring coins in 2025!

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is just around the corner. But when it first became a federal holiday, several states initially resisted it, including Arizona.

In 1986, Governor Evan Mecham rescinded the state’s recognition of MLK Day, arguing it lacked proper legislative approval. He proposed moving the holiday to a Sunday, which many believed would undermine its significance as a national observance. This sparked widespread protests, and activists - including an ancestor of one of our clients - led the fight to preserve the holiday.

Our client’s ancestor invited Rosa Parks to Arizona to help rally support, even hosting her at their home. Thanks to their efforts, Arizona officially recognized MLK Day in 1992 after a statewide referendum. The holiday continues to be celebrated nationally today.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

What a small world!

One of our clients from across the globe shared an incredible detail about their family history - their ancestors were married just a stone's throw from our London office, at the beautiful St. Peter’s Church in Vauxhall!

It’s amazing how history can connect us in unexpected ways.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

At Family History Films, we're diving into 2025 with BIG plans! 📷

Over the next few months, we’re setting our sights on Africa, Asia, and North America, sharing our research and capturing our clients' stories.

First stop: Cape Town 🦁⛰️ – and it’s just 15 days away! Our team is gearing up for an unforgettable shoot in this breathtaking city. Stay tuned to see what we get up to.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

FHF Wrapped 2024 🎁

220,000 words written (Books)
13,750 assets digitized (Archives)
450 minutes of film created (Films)
210 songs used (Films)
19 different locations visited (Films)

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season - see you in 2025!

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

One of TV’s most beloved families, The Simpsons, aired its first episode 35 years ago!

Did you know that creator Matt Groening drew inspiration for the characters from his own family? Homer and Marge are named after his parents, while Lisa and Maggie are named after his sisters. A reminder that every family has a story worth telling.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

In 1906, an ancestor of one of our clients was an active member of the Licensed Victuallers Association. Established in the 18th century, this charity united publicans, defending their business interests and supporting their families in times of need. It raised funds for struggling pub workers, established schools and a hospital, and even developed housing for retirees of the trade.

Now called the Licensed Trade Charity, it continues its work today, offering financial aid, wellbeing support, and educational opportunities for young people.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Are you excited for 'A Complete Unknown', the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet?

On this day in 2016, Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in Stockholm, Sweden, for "creating new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

Born Robert Zimmerman, Dylan’s paternal grandparents fled Odessa, Ukraine, after the violent pogroms of 1905, while his maternal grandparents emigrated from Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1902.

Their journey reflects the resilience of families seeking safety and opportunity that we frequently celebrate in our clients' stories at Family History Films.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Did you know that it was around 700 BCE when 'January' and 'February' were added to the calendar - and that they were originally placed at the end of the year?

When these two months were later moved to the front, 'September,' 'October,' 'November,' and 'December' found themselves out of place, as their names still reflect their original positions in the old Roman calendar, derived from the Latin words for "seven," "eight," "nine," and "ten."

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

Today we visited Air Raid Studios, Kennington to record the voiceover for one of our films.

We had the pleasure of working with the incredibly talented @ShaunMendum during the session, who helped us add the final touches to this special project.

We can’t wait to share it with our client!

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

On this day in 1893, women in New Zealand made history by voting in a national election for the first time. As the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote, New Zealand's milestone was a monumental victory for the women’s suffrage movement.

We recently uncovered the inspiring story of one of our client’s ancestors - a trailblazing opera singer who used her voice not only to captivate audiences but also to champion women’s suffrage and other vital causes. Among her remarkable achievements, she performed for convicts at Sing Sing Prison in New York and became the first woman to be nominated for state legislature by local political parties.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

On this day in 1939, the legendary Tina Turner was born.

Tina’s iconic song Nutbush City Limits encapsulated the experiences of growing up in rural Tennessee, a life filled with both hardship and resilience.

Just a few miles from Nutbush, our client’s ancestor began his own extraordinary journey. Born into slavery, he worked to raise a family that embraced education and seized new opportunities. His children laid the foundation for the family’s future success, eventually leaving rural Tennessee behind to pursue the promise of a brighter life in Chicago.

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

This time last year, we were gearing up for a memorable filming trip to The Hamptons! It was an incredible experience capturing stories while enjoying the charm of the season.

For some of our team, it also marked their very first Thanksgiving dinner!

[Family History Films @MyFamilyFilm]

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address reminding the nation of the fight for freedom and equality at the heart of the Civil War.

One of our recent projects unearthed some striking parallels to this moment in history. A client’s ancestor was drafted on July 1, 1863, at the age of 27 - the same day the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg began. He went on to serve in the 29th Maine Infantry Regiment during the Shenandoah Valley campaign under General Philip Sheridan.

The following year, while his regiment was traveling by rail to Washington, D.C., they encountered Lincoln’s funeral train passing them on its journey. A comrade recorded the scene in his memoir:

"As the train approached, draped in black, we all uncovered with one accord without orders to do so… we could not in any other way have exhibited more genuine love and respect for our martyred President than by this simple, voluntary act.”

— Major John Mead Gould